Machine for making window envelopes



Jul 17, 1923.

C. F. PFLANZE MACHINE FOR MAKING .WINDOW ENVELOPES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1919 Fig. I

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C. F PFLANZE MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW ENVELOPES Filed April 4, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ci]? Fflanz; e

ATTORNEYEQ- Patented July 17, 1923.

CHARLES F. PFLANZE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WINDOW ENVELOPES.

Application filed April 4, 1919. Serial No. 287,426.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PFLANZE,

a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Window Envelopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descript-ion, reference being had to the accompany ingdrawings, forming a part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making window envelopes and to an improved severing device adapted to sever a long transparent web of paper to provide the transparent patches for the envelopes. It is to be understood, however, that the severing elements are not limited to this particular use. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved means for delivering the transparent patches to the window envelope blanks.

In a mechanism for making window envelopes, it is desirable to maintain the patch and the gummed envelope blank under pressure for a considerable period of time, so as to cause the patch to adhere firmly to the envelope blank and this may be accomplished by pressing the gummed blank and patch between traveling pressure members having fiat faces. An object of the invention is to provide a. simple means for.

and illustrated in the accompanying draw-' ings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto. appended.

Fig. I is a vertical section of a portion of an envelope making machine, showing the new patch delivering device.

Fig. II is. an enlarged front elevation, partly in section, illustrating the upper portion of the machine.

Fig. III is a vertical section taken approximately through the center of the struc ture shown in Fig. II. v

Fig. IV is a side elevation of the machine illustrating the driving mechanism.

Figv V roll. Fig. VI is a detail view of the patch feedlngroll to which the web-tightening blades are secured.

F VII is a detail view of the patch feeding roll to which the severing blades are secured.

Fig. VIII is a diagrammatical.viewshowis a detail view ofthe gumming mg the revolving pressure members and an envelope blank arranged between two of said members.

Fig. IX is a view similar to Fig. VIII,

on a stationary shaft-4, and the flat pressure. plates are pivoted at 5 to said arms 3, the

pivots passing through flanges which extend rrcm the pressure plates. The pressure plates, moving with the arms 3, revolve about the axes ofthe stationary shafts 4, as I will be hereinafter described, and said pressure plates are free to turn on their pivots 5 so as'to lie parallel with each other during the pressing operation, as shown in Figs. I and IX. The envelope blank, passing to the pressure plates, travels-in the path indicated by arrows in F ig; I. It travels from a pair of rotating feed rolls 6 to a gumming roll 7, arranged above a feed roll 8, and thence to the pressure plates 1 and 2. The window envelope blank is desig nated by the character X in'Figs. VIII and IX, and the gmnming roll 7 is shown most clearly in Fig. V. A gum receptacle 9 (Fi I) is provided with a gum delivering rol 10 contacting with a gum transferring roll 11, the latter being in contact with a roll 12 whereby the gum is transferredto the roll 7. This gumming roll 7 (FigyV') is provided with raised surfaces 13 and 14, whereby the gum is received from the transferring roll 12 and impressed upon the envelope blanks. The surfaces 14 (Fig. V) impress the gum upon the flaps of the envelope, and the rectangular surface 13 im presses the gum around the margins ofthe window in the envelope blank. v The transparent patches, designated Z, in Figs. III, VIII and IX, are obtained from a roll oftransparent tape 15 located at the upper portion of the machine. The transparent strip of paper is acted upon by a combined severing and feeding device whereby it is divided into the small patches Z, as will be hereinafter described, and these patches are delivered to yielding gripper fingers 16 mounted on the pressure plates 1, as shown in Figs. I, II and III. The flat faces of the pressure plates 1 are recessed to receive the spring fingers 16, and each of said lingers is secured at one end, as shown in Fig. III, and provided at its opposite end with a stop lug 17 adapted to be engaged by the transparent patch Z. Ilach gripping linger 16 is also provided with an operating rod'lS (Figs. II and III) adaptedv to engage a stationary cam 19. The cams 19 are fixed to a hub 20, and said hub is secured to the stationary shaft 41. After a patch Z has been delivered to the gripping lingers (Fig. III), the operating rods 18 pass from the stationary cams 1.9, andv the spring fingers 16 then move downwardly to grip the patch. This is accomplished while the pressure plates 1 are traveling continuously in an endless path around the axis of the upper shaft 1. The transparent patch Z is carried to the window opening in the en velope blank X, as shown diagrammatically in Figs. VIII and IX. When the cooperating pressure plates 1 and 2 pass away froi'u each other, the gripping lingers 16 are actuated to release the blank and patch from the gripping plate 1. This is accomplished when the operating rods 18 again reach the stationary cams 19, at which time the oper ating rods 18 are actuated by engaging a portion 19' of the cam (Fig. so as to move the gripping fingers 16 away from the pres sure plate 1. I have not shown the means for folding and creasing the blank nor any of the devices to which the blank is delivered after it passes from the pressure plates for such devices may be constructed in any suit.- able manner.

When the pressure plates 1 and 2 occupy the positions shown by Fig. VIII, the window envelope blank X is gripped between corners of the opposing plates 1 and 2, and immediately thereafter the pressure plates 1 and 2 are turned on the axes of their pivots 5 so as to lie parallel with eachother, as shown in Fig. IX. As will be hereinafter described, this is accomplished without stopping or retarding the traveling blank X and without retarding the rotary motion of the carriers to which the pressure plates are pivoted. IVhile the opposing presssure plates are parallel with each other (Fig. IX) they travel with the window envelope blank X and its transparent patch Z, thereby firmly forcing the patch into engagement with the blank and maintaining such pressure for a considerable period of time. The patch is therefore very firmly secured to the blank and it is not liable to become loose during the subsequent gumming operations, nor when the envelope is eventually transmittcd through the mails.

The means for turning the flat plates 1 and 2 on the axes of their pivots 5 comprises stationary cams 21 (Figs. I and II) fixed to the stationary shafts 4, cam actuated arms 22 pivoted at 23 to the carrier arms 3, each arm 22 being pivoted. with a roller 24, and springs 25 connected to the arms 22 so as to retain their rollers 21 in engagement with the stationary cams 21.. hen the opposing pressure plates occupy their operative positions on opposite sides of the blank and patch, the rollers2-1 associated with said plates travel along the irregular portions ofthe cams 21 and motion is then transn'iitted from said rollers 2 1 to the ad jacent arms 22, and thence through links 26 whereby the arms 22 are connected to the pressure plates. The stationary cams 21 and the traveling arms 22 are so constructed and arranged that the pressure plates 1 and 2 will lie parallel with each other during the pressing operations.

hen the flat pressure plates are cooper ating with each other to press the patch onto the gummed blank, they travel about the axes of the shafts 4., and since said fiat plates are parallel with each other during the pressing operation, at least one of the plates must move toward the axis on which it revolves. In other words, if the opposing pressure plates are to lie parallel with each other during the prolonged pressing opera tion, they cannot both travel in absolutely true circular paths. The plates 1 of the Hi tary carrier A are therefore: yieldingly secured to the carrier. Each plate 1 is located adjacent to a plate 1 (Figs. II and III) provided with pockets 27 for the reception of pins 28, which extend from the plate 1. The pins 28 are slidably mounted in the pockets 27 and secured by means of headed retaining members 29 which extend through the end walls of the pockets. Springs 30, arranged in the pockets 2?, bear against the pins 28 to yieldingly retain the heads of the members 29 in engagement with the pockets 27. y

The driving mechanism herein shown comprises sleeves 31 (Figs. II and IV), rotatably mounted on the stationary shafts 4 and secured to the arms 3 at one side of the rotary pressure plate carriers. Large gear wheels 32, secured to the sleeves 31, mesh with each other as shown in Fig. IV, and power may be transmitted to these wheels in any suitable manner.

At the upper portions of Figs. I. II and III, I have shown the combined severing and. feeding device whereby a transparent web of paper 15 is unwound from a roll and cut into short sections to form the short ent, Serial No. 195,293, filed October 8,1917,

wherein I have shown a separate transferring device for carrying the indlvldual patches from the severing device to the flat face ofthe pressure member. To illustrate the present invention, I have shown paper feeding rolls 33, 34 and 35 located above but adjacent to the path of the flat plates 1. Each of these rolls is provided with a central rotatable shaft 36.. Springs 37 tend to retain the rolls 33 and 35 in engagement with the roll 34, and the traveling web of paper 15 is thus held. at two separated points by the pressure of the two separated feeding rolls 33 and 35. All of these rolls are driven V intermittently, through the medium of pinions 38 (Fig. IV) fixed to their shafts 36, a gear wheel 39 meshing with one of said pinions, a slotted Geneva wheel 40 fixed to said gear wheel 39, a pin 41 adapted to enter the slotsin Geneva wheel 40, said pin 41 being carried by a constantly rotating disk 42, so as to cooperate with wheel 40 to provide a well known Geneva movement, whereby the wheel 40 and the gearing just described is driven intermittently in response to the con- 7 stant rotary motion of disk 42 to which pin 41 is secured. 43 designates agear wheel fixed to the disk 42, and'44 is a pinion meshing with said gear wheel and also with one of the large gear wheels 32. Motion is transmitted from the last mentioned gear wheel, through the gearing and Geneva movement at the upper portion of Fig. IV, so as to intermittently drive the paper feeding rolls at a relatively high speed. When one of the traveling pressure plates 1 lies near the paper feeding rolls 34 and 35 (Fig. III), said rolls are driven rapidly for one-half of a revolution, and the strip of paper is thus rapidly advanced, so that'its forward edge will overtake and enter the open grippers 16.

To aid the simple feed rolls in delivering the paper directly to the grippers 16 on the flat faced pressure member, an inclined defiector K is interposed between said feed rolls and the path of the traveling grippers. This deflector comprises a long inclined deflector plate 45 (Figs. II and III) provided at its ends with arms 46 which are secured to a stationary part of the machine. The inclined deflector plate 45 lies below the roll 35 and in front of the roll 34, where it will properly deflect the free edge of the paper to the flat face of pressure plate 1 and thence to the grippers 16. v

The severing device preferably comprises severing blades 47 mounted in longitudinal grooves in the roll 34, and secured by means of screws, as shown in Fig. I. These severing blades extend from the periphery of roll 34, and they are preferably provided with straight serrated cutting edges-(Fig. VII) which lie parallel with the axis of the roll. VVeb-tightening blades 48 are mounted in longitudinal grooves in the roll 35 and secured by means of screws (Fig. III), and

each of these blades 48 preferably has smooth edge adapted to engage and tighten the paper, This'smooth edge is preferably inclined as" shown in Fig. VI, so as to gradually tighten the paper on the serrated edge of the severing blade 47. Each roller 3435 is grooved to receive the blade on its companion roller, and the peripheral face of the roller 33 (Fig. III) is preferably flattened or cut away to permit the blades 47 to pass freely under said roller 33.

To understand the action of the severing device (Fig. III) it is important'to observe that the traveling web of paper 15 is firmly held at two separated points, where it contacts with the rolls 33 and 35, and between these holding points the paper is bowed so as to overlie and engage the serrated edge of the severing blade 47. Since the paper is firmly held to prevent slippage on opposite sides 'of severing blade 47, said paper may be severed if it is drawn tightly onto the edge of blade 47. This is accomplished by the tightening blade 48 which moves transversely of the path of the paper and eventually enters the groove in which blade 47 is mounted. Obviously the paper,which cannot slip, will be either cut or torn bythe action of the tightening blade 48, and since the paper is tightened on the serrated edge of blade 47 it will be positively severed at said edge. It may be interesting to observe that this positive severing device will properly perform its function'even though the blades 47-48 are not accurately located in precise relative positions, and in this respect it differs from ordinary shearing devices wherein two sharp blades cooperate with each other. 'Inan ordinary shear, the two blades must contact with each other in a particular manner, but in the new device herein disclosed the travelingweb of paper is merely tightened on a traveling severing blade.

I claim:

1. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a pressure member having a flat faceadapted to press the patch into engagement with the envelope blank, and feed rollers whereby the patch is forced onto the flat face of said pressure member, said flat face being provided with a patch gripper and said feed rollers traveling pressure member having a fiat face window envelope blanks to the flat face of said traveling pressure member, and a combined patch feeder and severing device whereby each of the individual patches is simultaneously severed from a strip and forced onto the flat face of said traveling pressure member. I I

3. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a traveling pressure member having a flat face adapted to press the patch into engagement with the envelope blank, means for feeding window envelope blanks to the flat face of said traveling pressure member, a traveling patch gripper carried by the flat faced pressure member, a pair of feed rolls whereby the patch is delivered to said traveling gripper, and a traveling severing device whereby the patch is severed from a strip before it passes from said feed rolls, said traveling severing device being carried by one of said feed rolls,

4:. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a traveling pressure member having a fiat face adapted to press the patch into engagement with the envelope blank, patch feeding rollers adjacent to the path of the fiat face of said pressure member, and a patch deflector interposed between said path and the feeding rollers so as to deflect the patch onto said flat face. i v

5. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a traveling pressure member having a flat face adapted to press the patch into engagement with the envelope blank, patch feeding rollers adjacent to the path of the fiat face of said pressure member, a patch gripper carried by said pressure member, and an inclined patch deflector interposed between the path of said patch gripper and the feeding rolls, so as to deflect the patch along the flat face of the pressure member and to said patch gripper,

6. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a traveling pressure member adapted to press the patches into engagement with the envelope blanks, a traveling patch gripper carried by said traveling pressure member, and a high speed patch feeder whereby the patches are delivered to said pressure member at a relatively high speed so that the patches will overtake and enter the traveling gripper.

7. In a machine for making window envelopes, patch applying devices comprising a traveling pressure member adapted to press the patches into engagementwith the envelope blanks, a traveling patch gripper carried by said traveling pressure member, patch feeding rollers adjacent to the path of said traveling patch gripper, and operating means whereby said patch feeding rollers are driven at a relatively high speed, so that the patch will overtake the traveling patch gripper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aiiiX my signature.

CHARLES F. PFLANZE. 

